Yesterday we posted a report titled "Apple Strategically Delays the iPad Pro until the Fall," and today a supply chain rumor supports a fall debut as well. According to a new supply chain report published this morning, Apple's reported 12.9-inch iPad will come equipped with Oxide LCD display technology and will go into mass production in the third quarter of 2015.

Over the last six months Apple has reportedly been assessing different panel technologies ranging from a-Si, TFT LCD and Oxide LCD in terms of cost versus performance, and has only recently decided to move forward with Oxide technology.

Sharp, LG Display and Samsung Display are all sending out samples, the sources said, adding that Sharp is expected to be the main supplier due to its advantages in the market for Oxide production. Apple also wants to have another supplier on board to make sure production stays smooth, and that LG would most likely be the contender, the sources noted.

Panel suppliers are expected to be chosen soon and afterwards will begin producing limited amounts of supply around May followed by mass production in July and August, the sources added.

On another front, The Wall Street Journal  is reporting that "Apple is now considering adding USB ports and adopting so-called USB 3.0 technology, a much faster version that promises to transfer data up to 10 times as rapidly as current USB ports." Back in March we posted a report titled "European Parliament Rules Apple must use the Micro-USB Standard Port for European iDevices by 2017." Whether the switch to USB 3.0 is due to compliance with the European ruling is unknown at this time.

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